De la Fuente rejects claims Lamine Yamal received special treatment from Spain
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente says Lamine Yamal's delayed arrival was a medical decision that would apply to any player, dismissing Spanish media reports of special treatment.
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has dismissed suggestions that Lamine Yamal was granted special privileges after the winger was permitted to join the national squad later than his team-mates. Yamal stayed in Barcelona rather than travelling with Spain for Thursday's Nations League match against the Czech Republic, having experienced discomfort and inflammation in his right knee following Barcelona's La Liga win over Atletico Madrid.
De la Fuente explained that the decision was taken to spare Yamal the trip and allow him to continue treatment with his club's medical staff. He insisted the same approach would have been taken with any other player and rejected the reports outright, saying what troubled him most was the lack of rigour and truthfulness behind the claims.
Spanish media had suggested Yamal was receiving preferential treatment because he was not required to report immediately. The episode has kept attention on the teenager's workload, given his prominent role for both Barcelona and Spain. He has featured 16 times for his club this season, scoring 13 goals and providing 12 assists, after playing 45 matches last season and turning out 14 times for Spain.
Real Sociedad captain Mikel Oyarzabal is also expected to link up with the squad late, as he recovers from flu and has just welcomed his second child. De la Fuente said Yamal's recovery was progressing well and that the player was expected to be with the group on Friday.
Yamal is anticipated to reunite with the squad before Sunday's match against England. The coach's remarks seek to close down a debate that has centred less on the injury itself than on how the national team manages one of its most important young players.
Image: Getty Images / BBC Sport
